Former Nocona Girl Is Victim Of Overton Tragedy

Body of Irma Hodges, 16, Who Formerly Lived North of City, Being Brought Back For Burial.


In the terrible tragedy at  Overton Thursday afternoon, when a school building was demolished by a gas explosion, Irma Hodges, 16, was killed. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Hodges who formerly lived a few miles north of Nocona near Hynds City and have many friends and relatives here who were shocked to hear of the tragedy. The Howard-Daughtery ambulance left Thursday night to bring her remains back for burial.

Great anxiety was felt for Jimmie and June Groves, 10 and 7 years of age, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Don Groves, who live in Overton. Mrs. Groves was before her marriage Miss Thelma Cobb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Cobb. Word was received by phone that both children were safe. June was in the building, but miraculously escaped with cuts and bruises.

Radio reports of the disaster, which is  one of the most tragic in the nation's history, were that over 700 people were in the building at the time accumulated gas in the basement exploded at around 3:20 p.m. One radio station  reported that approximately 600 were believed killed and scores more injured. Seventeen teachers, all dead, had been recovered at 9:30 Thursday night as the The News goes to press.

Source: Nocona News - March 19, 1937

The New London School Explosion